3fw 



5F 467 
f157 
'Opy 1 




Price 50 Cents. 




VOTED TO THE PRACTICAL 
SIDE OF SQUAB RAISING. 



BY BASl" L_AKB SQUAB CO. 



V 



.1A51 



ILIB:-. \HY or OONuJJtSS 

MAR 6 1905 

I COPY t; 



e: entire contents or this book to- 
gether VyITH ALL CUTS ARE 

COPYRIGHTED 1905 



BY FANCIERS' PRESS, W E L L F 1_ E E T . MASS. 




iPreface 



HE object of this book is two-fold in its pur- 
pose. First, to give a truthful description of 
Squab raising in all its details, the method of 
building- houses, flying pens and feed troughs, 
the care of the flock, the best methods of kill- 
ing, cooling and marketing the Squabs, the ailments of 
Pigeons and questions and answers. 

Second, to obviate the endless amount of correspond- 
ence which is entailed conducting a business of this kind. 
If we were obliged to answer all the letters and questions 
asked us in the course of a season's business it means 
the emplovment of a large office force and also the ex- 
penditure of a vast amount of time on our part. Hence 
the issue of this little book. We have compiled the 
contents from our own ex]KM-ience and the experience 
of others who have spent many years in the business. 

From the letters of our correspondents we have se- 
lected the leading questions which we have endeavored 
to answer to the best of our abilitv and knowledge. 
Trusting that we have covered all the vital points, we are 
obedientlv vours. 



m 



Squab Breeding as an Industry. 

yUAB breeding for profit is an especially fas- 
cinating business inasmuch as it is very prof- 
ital)le, easy, requiring little work, and always 
a demand in the market for the squab. 

We know of one gentleman who works 
eight hours a day and manages a flock of over 200 pairs. 
He informed us that last year he cleared over $600.00 
and explained to us how he did it on so small a lot. Said 
he: "I first started with thirty pairs and sold all my 
scjuabs and the money left after the feed bill was de- 
ducted I invested in breeders until mv flock reached t\\o 
hundred and twenty pairs. I marked carefully those 
who hatched regularly and removed those who did not. 
I finally had left two hundred pairs. These birds I fed 
according to your directions and averaged nine pairs of 
squabs for every pair last year. I had some losses such 
as squabs dying now and then, and sometimes a pan* 
only hatched one. I watched a pair of this kind and if 
the performance was rejieated I removed then and in- 
serted a ])air that would hatch two. Now of course this 
t<iok some little time and trouble, and 1 now believe my 
flock will priiduce with anv other in the States. 

"I arose early en(_)Ugh in the UKirning to fill mv bath 
])ans and feed and then went to my work. .At 3.30 mv 
wife fed them and when 1 came home at night 1 made a 
tour of ins])ection to see that all was right. When 
scjuabs were ready for the market mv wife gathered 
tliem in the afternoon in a basket. ])recisel\- as one would 
gather eggs. When I came home at 5.30 1 killed them 
and hung them up to cool. In the nii rning 1 carried 
tlicm to town with me in a covered basket and stepped 



over to the nearest hotel or restaurant and disposed of 
them. I had lots of inquiries in the street cars for squabs 
and frequently took a dozen or two to some one who 
had engaged them the day before and delivered them to 
him right on the car. I can sell a hundred times as 
many as I can raise. 

"When I get one thousand pairs of Homers in opera- 
tion I intend to give up my position, which is a verv lu- 
crative one, and devote my whole time and attentitiU to 
squab raising." 




Leona, a Homer with a record of 500 miles. 



"^^ 



Industry for women. 

N these days, when a woman does not con- 
sider herself too proud to be of financial as- 
sistance to her husband, this industry is espe- 
cially adapted. 

It is a neat, clean, money-making business, 
not without its fascinaticns, for it is more of a pleasure 
than a task to care for these beautiful birds. 

A woman can unassisted make a good income from 
handling a flock of Homers. In fact, they have better 
success than men do, as a rule, for they never neglect 
them and also watch them more carefully. In a short 
time a woman learns to know every bird in her flock, 
and its peculiarities. She can kill, cool and market them 
as well as a man. Ry correspondence she can easily 
find out where she can get the most money for her birds, 
and can pack and shi]) them as easily as any one. 

If she lives in a city, the express company will send 
for them when notified, and she does not have any 
trouble in regard to delivery. 

A great nunfl^er of pigeons can be handled in a small 
space. In the rear yard of a fifty foot lot we have han- 
dled 1,000 pairs without crowding the birds. 

A woman with energy enough to conduct this business 
can soon ecpial her husband's salary without half the 
hard work. 

We have lots of lady customers, and have yet to hear 
of one who has scored a failure. We have taken espe- 
cial interest in the efiforts of such and have, and will as- 
sist them in any way possible to assure them of success. 
So when in doubt do not hesitate to write us, and you 
will always receive a reply. 



8 



Homer Pigeons Better than a 
Bank. 



AS there ever been a man of the present age 
who has not devoted some thought as to the 
future welfare of his wife and family? lie 
thinks of his wife and little ones and it starts 
a train of thought as to what would become 
of them in case of a i)rotracted spell of sickness, or in 
the event of his death, or the loss of his position, or the 
many other probabilities that arise to pull a working 
man down. It is most appalling to contemplate, and 
causes him many hours of unrest. 

Naturally his mind turns to some course whereby he 
can avoid these calamitous possibilities and jjrovide for 
their future and his old age. 

Numerous schemes flit through his mind as to the best 
course to pursue, most prominent among which are life 
insurance, the savings bank and a home to shelter his 
loved ones. 

In case of death the insurance money would build the 
home, but what would support them? In the case of the 
bank the savings of years would build the home, but 
what would sui)port them? In case of a long spell of 
idleness the bank savings would go, and nothing would 
be left and a new start would have to be made. This is 
very perplexing and discouraging. 

We Solve the Problem for you. 

Start an industry with your savings — one that will be 
under your immediate supervision — one that will |)av 
you ICO |)er cent, tjr more on your investment — one that 
you can start on $25 capital, and that will grow and earn 



money while you sleep — one that will permit you to 
work 8 or lo hours per day and still allow you time to 
give it all the attention it re(|uire$. In fact, be your 
banker and boss within a year of the time you start. 
You can accomplish this by starting in 

The Squab Raising Industry. 

This business will pav vou more than the shares of a 
gold n;ine, and no risks to run. The business is under 
your (wn eve. in \'our own rear yard. It canncit fail — 
no one can take it from vou. Tt is yours as long as you 
live, and vour wife can handle it as well as you. 

This is what it will Pay You: 

Each and every pair of Scpiab Breeding Homer Pig- 
eons will produce you on an average two squabs per 
month: these scjuabs are alwa\'s worth from 25c. to 50c. 
each in the market. It costs 5c. per pair per month to 
Iced the old birds. 

Take squabs at the lowest market rate of 25c. each, 
the product of one pair would bring in 50c. per month. 
Deduct 5c. for feed and you would have a net profit of 
45c. per month for cverv pair vou own. This would make 
}our ])rofits $450.00 a vear for every 100 pair. \A'here 
can you get that for the use of vour luonev? .And y(_^u 
Itx^e no sleep. Ihe sho]) whistle or the alarm clock don't 
bother you: your future is fixed. The first (juestion that 
arises in \our luind is 

Ca;^ I Sell my Squabs? 

Yes! There is always a stc-uK' demand for tliem at a 
good ]u-ice. It w( uld be be}'ond human ])Ossil)ilities to 
bleed enough to overstock the market. Thev are quoted 
dailv in Xew \'oik n:arkets, and other lar^-e cities, as 



10 

staples. As this article sroes to press thev arc (luoted at 
$4.50 in New York. Do not take our word but write to 
E. B. Woodward, 304 Greenwich St., New York, or 
Knapp & Van Ostrand, 243 Washnigton St., New York, 
or A. Silz, 267 Washington St., New York, taking care 
to enclose stamp for answer. 

We have based all of the above figures on the lowest 
market rate we have ever known squabs to be sold for 
■ — 25c. each. If you wish to start in on a small scale 

And Increase your Flock. 

You can do so, and you would be surj^rised to 
see what numbers you will have on hand at the 
end of a year. Take 25 |)airs for a basis to 
begin on, and start any nn nth of the year, say 
April. h\ir the first five months 2-, ])air would 
hatch you 50 s(|uabs ])er month, which would l)e a total 
of 250 young. Xow. a ])ige()n connuences to lav and 
hatch at five months of age, conse(|uentl\-, on the sixtli 
month the first hatch would join in, making 100 voung 
for that month; on the seventh month 150 voung, in the 
eighth month 200 \dimg, the ninth month 250 ^■oung, 
tenth month 300 \'oung, so at the end of the tenth month 
you would have the original ^o i Id i)igcons and \ .2^n 
y()ung, making xonr flock in round numbers 1,300 in 
number. N\)w, you are readx' to sell stjuabs. 

Many peo]de are so fixed financialh* as to buv enough 
breeders to start selling- ^(inabs at once, and reinvest 
their money in breeders. Hut a man nmst work accord- 
ing t() his monew 1 )o not build 

An Expensive House, 

T(^ begin with, n^ake the house and H\ing |)en as 



11 

cheaply as possible, and make the bird pay for a better 
class of breeding' later on. This is a business that any 

Woman or Boy 

Can run with ease. The birds require but litte care 
and are only fed and watered twice a day. Yen are not 
troubled with disease like you are in the poultry busi- 
ness, and the scpiabs are ready for the market in the re- 
markably short space (^f 

One iVIoNTH 

After thcv are hatched, and the market waiting for you. 
It recjuires little space. We have a customer who 
handles i ,roo pair of Hon^cs on the lot ( n which his 
house ,'-"t?nd', t tal size of the lot is 50 by 150, and he 
wcrks eii^ht h.ours a dav into the bargain. 



12 



Best Pigeons to Breed from. 



1IR()L(1H correspondence, personal investi- 
gation and a long and trying" experience in 
Pigeon breeding, we Imig ago abandoned all 
other breeds in favor of the Homer, the king 
bird of them all, for the manv good reaso.is 




given herein. 

I'irst, the I fomer is the i)lnnipest, heax'iest breasted 
l)ir(l th.'it flies, and is the hardiest, henlthie'^t l^rd of them 
all. Always ready for his meals and enjoving them to 
the fullest extent. 

Second, he is not subject to fits of delicacy in the feed- 
ing line. He requires no babving or coddling, and asks 
for nothing but ])lenty of ])ure water and good plain 
footl. 

Third, he and his mate will average from nine to ten 
pair of \dung per \"ear, a rec("»rd that no other bird can 
a|)pr()ach. 

Fourth, he is the onl_\- bird able t(^ bring his \-oung 
to a marketable age in the remarkabh' short s])ace of 
fotu' weeks, and sometimes less. 

Fifth, his s((uabs are alwa\s in demand, for thev are 
alwa\'s heavw i)lum]) and white, no matter what color 
is the coat of feathers he wears. 

They ;ire ahvost a third larger than an\- other breed 
exceitt the Runt, which cau'^ot be used .as a s»|uab 
breeder on a.ccnunt of its >^lowness, as the Ixunt onl\' 
])roduces < n an average, three priir per year. 



13 




What is a Homer? 

E is evidently a made bird, we mean l)y that, 
that he is a bird produced by the crossing of 
several different breeds. How far back this 
happened we have no means of knowing. He 
was bred for the purpose of carrying mes- 
sages nany hundred years ago, in fact, so far back that 
he can now legalh' la_\' claim to being a distinct species 
of Dird. 

After having l:)ecn used as a message carrier for m.any 
vears, he vas hnallv selected as a s(|uab breeder on ac- 
count of his sturdy Ir.iild, in.urerse breast, and perfect 
health i-nder aM co'ditirns of weather. He is a strong- 
Iv constituted bird and the grandest l^reeder ever known. 
He must not be confounded with the Carrier for he is 
in everv wav the superior of that liird. The Homer 
has been known to tiy 800 miles to his home loft, while 
it would tax the carrier severely to find its way home 
from a point 25 miles distant. 

He derives his name from his love (^f home, and the 
wonderful instinct which guides him there from the most 
distant ]ioiiUs. 

He does not lav claim to anv ])articular color, InU 
comes in as many hues as Joseph's c at. 

He comes in red, dun, white, black, blue, checkers, 
l)ars and mottled. When a flock is sunning themselves, 
thev cast all the tints and cond^ination of tints shown 
in a rainbow. It would delight the soul of an artist, 
and a more beautifn.l sight would be hard to find. 

Manv pigeons resemble the Homer yet he resembles 
none. It might be possible to mistake a conuuon pig- 
eon for a Homer, yet no one would mistake liim fi r a 
common bird. 



14 

He has a distinguished air pecuhar to himself, he is 
larger and more compactly built, a well formed head, 
broad and rather flat on the top, a beautiful rimmed eye, 
and a large wattle at the base of the beak, a trim thor- 
oughbred, racy look, possessed by no other bird. 

No peacock is prouder than he, or has a more com- 
placent strut. A breeder once remarked to us "that 
he had no sentiment, and didn't care for looks, what he 
was after, was the big 25 cent squab." So are we, but 
we must acknowledge that we are sentimental enough 
to love the grand bird that produces it. 







Nest of Eggs. 




15 



Getting Ready for a Start. 

E will beg-in by saying that no particular style 

or size of house is required for squab raising. 

Any structure that is warm, or can be made 

warm, and free from drafts in the winter, and 

cool and well ventilated in the summer, may 

be turned into a squab-house. 

There are few people who haven't a vacant building 
of some kind on their premises, a woodshed, henhouse, 
smokehouse, or the loft of a barn, or some other build- 
ing that could be utilized for the purpose. 

After having selected the building you wish to use, 
build a floor in it at least a foot above the ground, or 
so that you can see under it. this is done so that the 
rats cannot take up an abode underneath it. Then build 
a flying pen. along the sunny side of it, the full length 
of the house and from 8 feet to i6 feet in width, and as 
high as the eaves of the house. Thus, if your house is 
1 6 feet in length by lo feet in width, it would make your 
flying pen i6 feet long, of any width you desire, and as 
high as the eaves. It is not necessary to have a large 
flving pen, as it is only designed for a sunning and exer- 
cise ground. Pigeons do better when confined, as the 
cock can drive the hen without much fatigue on his 
part, whereas, if they were alloweri to fly. he would have 
much dif^culty in catching her, as she is the lightest 
and swiftest bird, and wih not go to nest until driven to 
do so. Cover the flying pen with one inch mesh wire 
to keep out the swallows, who if they are allowed to get 
in. will eat as much feed as the pigeons. 

On the inside of the squab house, on the three walls 
not occupied by the door and window, build rows of nest 



16 

boxes, 12 inches S(|uare and 12 inches deep. Do not 
put anv boards in fr( nt (if these l)Oxes to keep the 
scjuabs from falhng- out, as it makes them too thfficuh to 
clean: I)uihl them just hke the i)i_!L;"e<in holes of a post- 
oftice. If \'i>u wish to ])r<)tect the scpiabs from fallino" 
out, build a li.i^ht frame without an_\- l.)i ttom, and when a 
pair start to build, sli]) tlie frame over the partially built 
nest. Wdien the s(|ual)s are taken from this nest, clean 
the frame and di]) it in whitewash an.d ])Ut it back again. 
Each ])air of birds must have two nest boxes, as the 
female goes to setting whe:i the hrst hatch is f;om ten 
da\'s to two weeks old. dims if \iiu have 100 pair of 
birds. \du need 20c nest bi xes. \'our scpial) hotise 
will hold as nianv pigeons without crrnvding a-; _\ou can 
get in nest boxes. 

Buying Birds for a St\rt. 

When a man or woman makes u]) his, or her mind 
to g'i 1 into S(|nab raising lor a ]:)roht, the\' should do so, 
in all earnestness, aril Ix-gin b\- reading thus little 1)Onk. 

( ireat care should l)e taken in huxing the hrst lot of 
l)irds, as nuicli dejiend^ on the doings and actions of 
the hrst lot purchased b\- the beginner, as to tlie success' 
of the enter]iise. If the birds are thoroughbred mated 
Ilomers of a breeding age, then the result will exceed 
their exi^ectation. ( In the other hand if the l)irds are an 
old, or worn out tiock. inbred, or crossed, or common 
pigeons, the result \n ill be (''^\'!i'i)i i"tirg in the extreme. 

A hock of this kind reciuires tiie same building, sanie 
feed, sar.ie attention as tht good birds, so get the best 
or dim't start. 

Methods of Unscrupuioup Brokers. 



17 

We call them Pig-eon Brokers, for the reason that 
they do not raise a single bird they sell, but buy them 
all over the country without regard to age or quality, 
and as a consequence succeed in gathering a mixed lot 
of birds, which are sorted and sold out to the first buyer. 
While some of these birds may be straight bred Hom- 
ers, they are apt to be unprolific on account of age, 
inbreeding, and various other causes. 

Common Pigeons. 

The common pigeon is the bird unprofital)le in the 
way of squab raising. They are unreliable, vagrant in 
habits, seldom raising in confinement more than four 
or five pair a year, their ?(|uabs being classed in the mar- 
ket as dark mixed, only bring from $1.25 to $1.75 per 
dozen, as against the Homer squab at $3.00 to $9.50 
per dozen. 

The cost of feeding, housing, and care licing the same 
as the better iMrd. 

Cross Bred Pigsons. 

In this statement, we are sure that every breeder of 
pigeons will agree witn us. in the thorouglibred 
Homer we have all the (lualities which gt) to make u]) a 
perfect breeder, and we cannot cross him without a loss 
of a heavy per cent of these perfections, consequently, 
it is bevond the i>ossibilities to gain anything by cross- 
ing him with anv other bird. 

Many have tried to do this to the undoing of their 
bank accounts. A cheap bunch of birds are the dearest 
k t a man ever attempted to liandle even if the originals 
were a gift to him. He will not realize enough from 
them to pay his grain bills. 



18 

He will be inspired with such a huge disgust for 
squab breeding, that it will descend to his children. 
(We have been over the route.) 

If your means are limited, you had better start in 
with a few Homers and buy from month to month until 
you succeed in getting your flock to a paying size. 

Always buy from a breeder on whom you can rely. 
Do not pretend to know anything about the business, 
and tell him so frankly, and he will always do the best 
he can to assist you in making your venture a success. 

We have always found it the best policy for a begin- 
ner to sell his squabs and buy breeders, for you thus 
introduce new blood into your flock and run no risk of 
inbreeding. If you are determined to save your in- 
crease, at a given time gather up all your young cocks 
and trade them with some one who has good stock, by 
doing this you can also keep your flock from inbreeding. 
This will keep your flock healthy and rugged. 

We do not adv cate the promiscuous mating of the 
young bred in the same squab house, as frequent blood- 
matings are liable to occur. Tliis can be readily deter- 
mined by an exanination of the squnlx if his flesh be 
dark colored, it is the result of a blood-mating. 



19 



Mating, Nesting, Laying, Hatching. 

OAIER cocks are not p lyganiists, they have 
but one mate. When once mated they never 
separate unless h\- the death of one "or the 
other. When this occurs, after a time, thev 
win again mate up with a bird of the opposite 




sex. lUit if a cock is taken from the squab-house and 
placed in a mating coop with a female they will after a 
time mate with her, but, if placed in the same quarters 
with their old mate they will desert the new spouse and 
go back to the old. 

The hen bird builds the nest, being driven to do so 
by the cock, who is at all times the master of his own 
home. When you see one bird driving another about 
the yard, pecking her, and giving her no chance to eat, 
drink, or rest tmtil she begins to carry nesting materials, 
you !nay know that the bird being driven is the hen. 

hdirting, twisting around several times, strutting and 
putting u]> 1)\' the male, means nothing. A steady drive 
is when the real goods are being delivered. 

When the nest is built the hen lays an egg and skips 
a day, then lays the second egg. The hen sits on the 
eggs from about four o'clock in the afternoon until 
about ten the next morning, when the cock takes his 
turn sitting until four in the afternoon, this is kept up 
until the young are hatched which usually occurs 17 
da\s after the last egg is laid. IJoth the parent birds 
then feed until the young are about two weeks old when 
the cock again drives her to nest, this is the reason that 
each pair reciuire two nest boxes. If thev are not pro- 
vided with two, they will lay their eggs in the same nest 
and the young squabs will be kicked out and perish. 



20 

Both birds feed the young up to the age of two weeks, 
or. until the hen nests again. At first the food is a thin 
milky substance called "Pigeon's Milk." i'his is dis- 
gorged by the old birds and gradually becomes thicker 
and thicker, until as the scjuabs become older they are 
fed the whole grains. 

This is what makes squab breeding attractive to most 
people, there is no care or feeding required as is the case 
with chicks, the parent birds attend to all this and when 
the squab is ready to leave the nest he is ready for the 
market. At four weeks of age he is fully feathered and 
often weighs uK^re than either of his parents. Ikit if 
allowed to get on the floor he will soon train off the 
superfluous flesh and become at once the trim, racy 
Homer. 

As a usual thing there is a squab of each sex hatched 
in the same nest, the cock being the larger bird and al- 
ways hatches first. If at any time you notice too much 
discrepancy in the size of the two birds, then you may be 
sure the larger and stronger one is receiving more than 
his share ( f the nourishment. In a case of this kind, 
go to some other nest and select a squab that is about 
the same size of the larger one and trade places with the 
weaker one. 1 he parent bird will go on feeding it with- 
out noticinu' the exchantre. 



^^ 







^ 







^'.(H 



f lii 












_L_^ 



Killing and Shipping. 




HEN a squab is four weeks old he is ready for 
the market and must be taken before he 
leaves the nest. Go around in the afternoon 
just before feeding- time and gather up the 
squabs you intend to market. Their crops 
are then empty. Take them into the place you intend 
to use for killing-, and kill them either by wringing their 
necks, tweaking and breaking them or by bleeding them 
in the mouth, which is done by sticking a sharp knife in 
the roof of the mouth. 

We prefer tweaking as it avoids shedding of blood. 
Hang them head downward and let them cool over 
night. If you have a cellar, so much the better. 

In your cooling room nail up a piece of 2 by 4 and 
drive in wire finishing nails just far enough apart to 
catch the squabs' legs. Slip the legs between these and 
let them hang head downward, taking care that their 
bodies do not touch each other. 

Wherever the body of the s((uab comes in contact with 
an object for any length of time it forms a discolored 
spot, for the blood settles there. This must be avoided, 
as on the whiteness of the squab depends the price. 

In the morning thev are ready for shipping. In sum- 
mer pack them in layers, scattering ice on the lower 
layers. I'ack them in not more than six dozen lots; if 
vou pack more than this they are liable to crush out of 
shaj)e. which depreciates tlieir market value. 

In the winter jiack same as al)ove without the ice. If 
vour market wishes them (lr\- ]Mcked, pick them sron 
after killing and throw in a tub of ice cold water and let 
them remain over night, and pack as above. 



22 




Market Prices. 

E have never known the market to go under 
three dollars ($3.00) per dozen for first class 
Homer Squabs. And have seen it go as 
high as $9.50 in the winter, or when game 
birds were scarce. 

On application we can furnish you the names of com- 
mission houses in the large cities who handle squabs. 
We would not advise you to write them unless you have 
the squabs to furnish, for you will be bothered to death 
by their trying to buy your squabs, such is the eager- 
ness of the market. 

You had better fill your home market before shipping 
any, and if you live anywhere near a town of good size, 
vou will find that your flock must be a large one indeed 
before you can raise an amount sufficient to supply the 
demand. 

Hotels, Restaurants, Hospitals, Invalids and the 
wealthy class of Jews are all squab consumers. 

Our place is situated about six miles from a city, and 
that city has shown that it is able to consume over three 
hundred dozen per montii as taken from our books. We 
do not know the ame-unt sold by other breeders in this 
vicinity and there are quite a nund^er. But we do know 
that not one of them has made a shipment outside of tlie 
city. 

Our demand for breeders for this growing industry 
has become so gieat that we are now only selling culls 
for the market, keeping the perfect birds for breeders. 

If you are the first to begin in your vicinity, your ex- 
perience will be the same as ours, you will find yourself 
kept busv supplying your neighbors with young breeders 
for some time to come. 



cr 




23 

Estimate of Profits for loo Pairs of Selected 

Birds. 

We give below an estimate o.f the profits of lOO pair 
of selected breeders. This estimate is given from our 
own experience. We carefully weighed and kept ac- 
count of the grain, grit and salt required for this num- 
ber of birds each month, conmiencing on the first day 
of January. 

January produced 194 squabs; February, 196; March, 
182; April, 194; May, 186: June, 198; July, 174; August 
and September moulting periods; October, 160; No- 
vember, 198; December, 196. Total, 1,878. Whicn 
were sold at $3.00 per dozen, or 25 cents each, making 
a total of $469.50. 

Feed for the twelve months amounted to $54.00. 
Making a total profit of $415.50. 

This reci rd was made by a bunch of 100 pair of se- 
lected Homers kept in an individual scjuab house and 
flying pen. If these s(|ualis had l)een kept until they 
were three montns old and sold as youngsters for breed- 
ing purposes they would have brought $1.00 per pair, 
and the profit would nave been almost doul)led. Re- 
member this estimate provides for no labor as that part 
we did rurselves at no cost except a small portion of our 
time (lailv. 



24 



Arrangements. 

N the front of the squab house cut a window 
two feet square so the birds can go in and 
out from the Hying pen. Place a door in the 
squab house and also one in the flying pen 
at any point you desire. 

In the corner of the flying pen place an earthen pigeon 
bath dish, as they are superior to either tin or galvanized 
iron. It is a good thing to place an earthen drinking 
fountain in the flying pen so that they may always have 
fresh water. Keep your bathing dish clean, and empty 
it when they are through bathing, which is usually about 
II o'clock in the morning. You cannot give them too 
much water. It is water, water, with them all the tmie 

In the winter our pigeons will break the thin ice to 
bathe. It would make you shiver to watch them. In 
the centre of the yard place your feeding pen. 

Place a couple of bowls for grit and oyster shells in 
some handy place in the trying pen, or in lieu of the grit 
you can use clean, sharp sand. We find the best grit is 
the "mica crystal grit," for sale in nearly every town. 
Do not neglect to have salt cat laying around where they 
can get it at all times. 

If you live in a cold climate where the winters are se- 
vere, move all the utensils we have mentioned inside the 
squab house during that period. 

Put plenty rf ]:)erches in the ?c|uab house and also in 
the flying pen. taking care not to place one perch under 
the other, for the l)ir(l will soil tlie one underneath with 
its droppings. 

Keep the pen and floor of your sfpiab house clean. 
whitewash your nest boxes and you will always have a 
good healthv lot of breeders. 



25 



Feeding. 

F you feed by hand, or, in other words, scatter 
the grain on the floor of the flying pen or 
squab house, throw no more than they will 
eat up clean, for the grain soon sours when it 
becomes damp and will make the old birds 
sick and will surely kill the squabs. 

Feed earlv in the morning and between four and five 
in the afternoon. 

We have gained better results by using the automatic 
feeder. You do not hear the hungry squeaks of the 
young through the day when the feed is always before 
them, and need not be afraid of increasing your grain 
bills, for a pigeon will eat no more than it needs. It is 
also much less trouble as you need not fill it until it is 
entirely empty. 

Throw a bunch of nesting material in the squab house 
consisting of the following: clean straw, hay, or dry 
grass, coarse weeds, or tobacco stems. We prefer the 
tobacco stems, and so do the birds, as they have a tend- 
ency to keep off vermin such as mites, lice, etc. 

The birds will build their own nests and bring out 
their own voung without any further assistance from 
you. As soon as tne young are taken from their nests, 
throw the old nesting material away, and whitewash the 
nest l)ox, and it is ready for use again. 

Having followed these instructions you cannot help 
but reahze the most flattering success. 

Kinds of Food and How to Feed it. 

After a good deal of experimenting, we finally settled 
down on the following feed and method of feeding. In 



26 

winter four days of cracked and whole corn, two days of 
red wheat, and one day of Kaffir corn. Hemp seed or 
Canada ]:)eas may be substituted for the Kaffir corn. 

In the summer four days of the red wheat, two days 
of tlie cracked corn, and one day of the Kaffir corn. 
This gives them a change of diet which always gives 
them a healthy appetite, .\lways be sure to leed the red 
wheat as the white wheat will give them the diarrhoea. 

Do not buy your feed in large quantities as it may 
become sour or moldy. Always feed the best and your 
squabs will be so much finer and larger that it will n\)re 
than pay the difference in the cost of the grain. 

The greatest difficulty we have had is to get enoug'li 
lime into the bird to create the shell, until \vc began lo 
use Salt Cat, which not only furnishes lime, but all the 
salt that is needed. Still it is not injurious to the birds 
to have a lump of rock salt laying on the floor in front 
of them at all times, as they always relish a change, even 
thouoh thev receive the same food in another wav. 



28 




Diseases of Pigeons. 

E have heard and read of a good many so- 
called pigeon diseases and remedies, but in 
our experience have only encountered the fol- 
lowing: (ioing light or consumption, canker 
and S(M-e throat, and what is known as the 
wing disease. 

Going light is an incurable disease, and is only found 
among inbred birds (^r those that are hatched during the 
moulting season. These birds are always of a poor con- 
stitution, and are a detriment to any flock. Always kill 
them, for, while the disease is not contagious, they will 
mope around for several weeks and die in the end. 

Canker is a disease which usually makes its appear- 
ance in the summer time, or during the moulting period. 
The throat becomes sore and a cheese like formation 
lodges there, the eyes become watery and swollen; they 
also have a bad diarrhoea. It is caused from feeding too 
much corn, which is very heating to the blood and 
causes gastritis, which in turn conununicates the poison 
to all ]Kirts of the body. l\enie(ly — bVed wheat and 
Kaffir corn. Cut out the conuui n corn entirely. Put in 
their drinking water one-half ounce sul])hate of iron to 
one gallon of water, and force them to drink it b_\' keep- 
ing that and no other water beiore them constantlv. 

Wing disease is a little corn that f rms on the wing 
joint. Catch the bird, ])ull out some of the wing feathers 
so that it cannot fly and ])aint the affected parts with 
iodine every third day until cured. 

Lice and mites are vermin which kdll squabs in short 
order. Keep the nests cle;m and well whitewashed, and 
if they then appear, sprinkle well with coal oil. It will 
not hurt the S(jual)s. 



29 

Another very good remedy is to place a moth ball in 
the nest with the young- squab. This will effectually set- 
tle them. 

A tablespoonful of Xaptholenium to every two gallons 
of water in the bath pan will rid the old birds of vermin, 
as they do not dust themselves like a hen but bathe in 
the water until every feather is saturated. 

J. Y. Johnson says: "My pigeon ranch (in California) 
produces close to 3,500 squabs a month. It contains 
7,500 pair of adult pigeons and nets me an income of 
$12,000 per year. Two men do all the work on the pig- 
eon ranch. Every morning rounds are made and all the 
marketable squabs are selected. In the evening these 
are dressed. We get from $2.00 to $4.00 per dozen gen- 
erally, and when they are scarce they sometimes bring as 
hig-h as $10.00 per dozen." 

We will say right here that if Mr. Johnson can do that 
well on a bunch of common pigeons which are allowed 
to fly over the country at large, that if he had Homers 
in confinement he could double his income. 

xA.t least seventy per cent, profit is the estimate made 
by Mr. J. H. Summers, one of the best known Eastern 
breeders. When asked as to his judgment of the profit 
in squab raising from a most conservative estimate he 
makes the following statement: 

"The squab raising industry without doubt pavs a 
larger percentage of profit on the capital invested than 
many kinds of business of the present time. Take for in- 
stance 500 pairs of good breeding birds. Good breeders 
will have at least eight pairs of squabs a year, and some 
average more. Takmg it at the low rate of eight pairs 
per year. 500 pairs of birds would have 4,000 pairs of 
squabs. Sup])ose at the end of the year that the 3.500 



30 

pair had been sold at 35 cts. per pair for squabs, the re- 
ceipts will amount to $1,225, ^"<^1 subtracting- the cost of 
feeding- your old birds, which would be about $390.00, or 
at the rate of i 1/2 cents i)er ]:)air per week, vour profit 
would amount to $835.00, or about seventy per cent on 
an investment of $1,000.00." 

Mr. Sununers has given a very low estimate, we beat 
that (jn the average \\ith all our squab houses, to say 
nothing- of our selected breeders. 




Twelve Days O'.d. 



31 



Questions and Answers. 

O. Can I use any kind of a Iniiltling for a squab 

house? 
A. Yes, any kind of a building can be converted into a 

squab house. 

O. How can I change a hen house into a squab house? 
A. Raise it a foot off the ground, and l)uikl a good tight 

floor in it, cut in a door and \vin(k:)\v on the s(iuab 

liouse side of the flving pen. 

Q. How shah I I)uikl my flying pen? 

A. Buikl it on tlie south side of tlie squab house, so 
that the birds can fly from the house to the pen, 
l)uikl it the full length of the house and as high 
as the under side of the eaves, make it any width 
you wish and cover it with one-inch mesh wire, 
place a door in the mesh, so that you can enter 
pen easily. 

O. How many piegons can T get in a house, say 12 by 

16 feet and ten feet high? 
A. You can get in as many pigeons as you can find 

room for nest boxes. 

O. How shall I build mv nest boxes? 

A. r>uild them in rows against the walls of your squab 
house, as high as you like, and make them 12 
inches scjuare and 12 inches deep, lluild them 
like the pigeon h.oles in a post-ofiice. 

O. Sb.all I whitewash my scpiab house and nest boxes? 
A. Yes, whitewash as often as you wish, the oftener 
the better. 



32 

Q. Can I use the common piegon for a squab breeder? 

A. Yes, but we would advise you not to do so, as the 
common pigeon only raises four or five pair a 
year in confinement, and the squabs are classed 
as culls and seldom l)ring over $1.25 per dozen 
and not much demand at that. The feed and care 
of a connnon flock costs just as much as a good 
flock, and the squabs do not bring more than a 
third of the money. 

O. What kind of pigeons is the best for squab 
breeding? 

A. The HOMER by all means. His squabs are the 
largest, demand the greatest, he raises from nine 
to ten pair (20 scjuabs) per year, is strong and 
healthy, and eats no more than a common bird. 
You can always get from 25 cents to 40 cents 
apiece for them. 

O. Can you send me ten females and two males? 
A. No. one male will only mate with one female. 

O. Will mv birds go right to laying as soon as I get 

them? 
A. Xo. the birds take from two to six weeks to settle 

down, and i)ick their nest boxes. When they do 

this, they work on in the same nest boxes until 

they die. 

O. At what age do they become useless as breeders? 

A. A HOMER cantiot be depended on after he is 12 
years old, although we have some older than that 
who are doing well. We do not recommend y u 
to keep them after that age. 



33 

O. Shall I build nests for them the same as I would 
for a hen? 

A. No, throw some hay. straw, or tobacco stems in 
the :?(|uab house and they will build their own 
nests. 

O. How ;-hall 1 feed the voung' squabs? 

A. You must not try to feed them, the parent birds do 

that. When they are four weeks old they are 

able to feed themselves. 

Q. How long after the squabs are hatched before they 
are ready for the market? 

A. When they are fully feathered, from three to four 
weeks of age, it is then time to take him from 
the nest and send him to the market. 

O. How shall I get them ready for the market? 

A. Go around just before feeding tmie each afternoon, 
and gather up the squabs that are ready for 
market while their crops are empty, kill them 
either by breaking the neck, or stick them in the 
roof of the mouth, then hang them up l^y tlie 
feet and let them cool until morning when they 
are ready for packing and shipping. 

O. How shall I pack them? 

A. Have boxes made to hold three, six, nine and 
twelve dozen lots, pack the squabs in these end 
for end. taking care to put in clean paper so that 
they will not come in contact with the box and 
make them taste of the wood. 

O. How soon will I get my money after shipping? 

A. As soon as the birds arrive at their destination, vcu 



L. of C. 



34 

will get the money by return mail. Commission 
men are very prompt in remitting. They are 
afraid some one else will pick you up, and they 
want the squabs. 

Q. Are squabs classified? 

A. Yes, they are classified in three classes. No. i, 
white, weighing from lo to 12 pounds per dozen. 
No. 2, mixed, weighing from 8 to 10 pounds per 
dozen. No. 3. dark, weighing from 5 to 8 p:unds 
per dozen. These ^([uabs are govvrned by the 
New York market quotations. 

O. Where can I get these prices from time to time? 

A. Write to E. B. Woodward, 302 Greenwich St., New 
York, N. Y., and enclose stamp for answer. 

O. Shall I send my squabs to the market dressed, cr 
with the feathers on? 

A. That will depend on where you market them. Some 
markets want them dressed, and others with the 
feathers on. 

O. How often shall I feed the birds, and what? 

A. Feed them every morning early, and every after- 
noon, about four in the winter and abcnU five in 
the summer. In the winter feed five days ot 
cracked corn and two days of red wlieat. in the 
summer reverse the mode. You can feed millet, 
kaffir corn, hemp seed, and Canada peas at any 
time as dainties. 

O. How shall I give them drinking and bath water? 

A. Give them plenty of pure water in a common poul- 
try- drinking fountain, and fcr baths get a stone- 
ware bath dish and fill every morning. 

O. Do they need grit and salt? 

A. Yes. give them plenty of sharp sand or "'[Mica Crys- 



MAR 6 1905 



36 



tal" grit. Put salt cat where tliey can get to it at 
any time. 

O. What do you give tliem for Hme? 

A. (iive them plenty of ground oyster shells. 

O. Are pigeons subject to disease? 

A. Yes, if they are not properly fed and cared for they 
will l)e subject to canker, caused fr(^:u feeding too 
much corn in the summer, and a disease called 
going light, caused from not salting, and a lack of 
grit. If fed and cared for according to the direc- 
tions given by us either disease can be avoided. 

O. r)o pigeons have mites, lice and other vermin? 

A. Yes, but it is easy to get rid of them. Keep your 
nest boxes clean, and wdien the squabs are a week 
old, drop a moth ball in the nest and that will ef- 
fectuallv settle them. For the (ild ones put one 
tablespocnful naptholeum in the bath pan, and 
when he bathes he saturates every feather and 
the lice are killed out at once. 







Four Weeks Old. 



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